Chad - Foreign policy

In the region, Déby moved to repair and solidify relations with
neighboring countries placing high importance on securing the support of
Libya and Sudan, both of whom backed his takeover in late 1990. In
August 1996, a tripartite Chad-Sudan-Central African Republic summit was
announced to set up a regional integration program. In November 1996,
Chad and Libya met for their third joint commission and reaffirmed their
desire for cooperation. Good relations with Libya have proved a
challenge because of historical antagonism between Libya and Chad over
the Aozou strip, and because of the delicate role Qaddafi played in
mediating the hostilities between Déby and the MDJT. The
mistreatment and forced repatriation of Chadian migrants from Libya in
2000-01 further strained relations between the two countries.
Déby has also sought and received economic and political linkages
with various Arab states.

Déby also has had difficulties with the Central African Republic
(CAR) over the exile in Chad of the former CAR armed forces commander,
General Francois Bozize, who also was suspected of plotting against the
CAR government. However, Chad reportedly sent troops to defend President
Ange-Félix Patassé after the May 2001 coup in CAR.
Mediation from the region was expected to improve relations between the
two countries. However, in 2002 border clashes continued between rebel
groups of the two countries, and Déby blamed CAR president Ange
Felix Patasse for the situation. Chad has withdrawn its troops from the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) sent there to repel rebels backed
by Uganda and Rwanda. Diplomatic relations with President Wade and
Senegal have been important because of the multiple law suits in
N'Djamena demanding the extradition and repatriation from Senegal
of former president Hissène Habré for alleged human rights
abuses.

International human rights groups have documented human rights abuses
under Déby's regime as well. In October 1996, Amnesty
International strongly criticized the French government, charging them
with "silence or complicity" in the face of arrests and
executions being carried out by Déby's government.
Amnesty's attacks were directed against France because
approximately 800 French troops were then stationed in Chad. France
responded by claiming no knowledge of abuses and no authority to
intervene. They have considered a reduction in the number of French
forces based in Chad. Though the French are only tepid in their support
of Déby, they recognize the strategic importance of Chad in
relation to contemporary trouble spots on the African continent and do
not want to lose their military position there. For Déby,
maintaining good relations with the EU and the multilateral lending
institutions is key, but will depend on the quality of elections,
measures to control corruption, and adherence to IMF policies.

In January 1995, the Esso-led oil consortium, Chad, and Cameroon signed
a pipeline management agreement, which was to have oil moving from
southern Chad to the Cameroonian port of Kribi by 1999, thus further
solidifying relations between Chad and Cameroon. However, turmoil in the
region, weakening of resolve of some consortium partners, and
international environmental and human rights concerns have delayed the
project. Overruling these concerns, on 6 June 2000, the World Bank
agreed to lend
US
$39.5 million to Chad and
US
$53.4 million to Cameroon to help build the 1,070-km (665-mi) pipeline.
Exxon Mobil is the lead company in the pipeline project and had
required, before it would proceed further with the project, that the
World Bank participate in the project in order to protect private
company investment from possible future nationalization of the company
by Chad or Cameroon. Chadian political opposition has not responded
favorably to the World Bank's decision to become involved. The
opposition condemns World Bank funding because they contend that it
fuels government corruption, embezzlement, and drug trafficking. As of
early 2003, the pipeline was scheduled to become operational by
year's end.

User Contributions:

I would like to see a little less info on the current wars, conflicts, going on in Chad and other related African countries, and a little bit more about each country's policy's on certain subjects, such as immigration.

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